~:~ Boys ~:~

Thorin lied face down on the bed, his wavy black and silver hair everywhere, the furs up to his waist, his back bare, and his light snores filling the room. Sleeping wasn't normally his thing since Frerin was born, but today, he was really tired. As any king, Thorin was glad he had no meetings that day or the day after, and the dwarf needed to sleep all day... so, the tiny squeak of the bedroom door opening was just another way to disturb the King's sleep.

"Daddy," Frerin said, poking his father's shoulder. "Daddy. Daddy. Daddy."

"Fwewin," Thorin muttered into the pillow. "Daddy's tired."

The little dwobbit tugged at one of Thorin's strands of hair. "But Daddy, it's something important."

"Yes, Uncle," Kili chimed in, standing beside Frerin.

The dwarf king grumbled loudly turned onto his back, blearily peering at his nephews and son. "What is this important thing?" he asked groggily. "And what part of 'leave your uncle alone in the morning' don't you two understand?"

Fili and Kili grinned. "Well, Uncle. Morning came and went five hours ago," Kili announced. "Poor Little Frerin over here had to wake us up because he was hungry," he said and Frerin nodded and climbed onto the bed. "He said Daddy and Papa were sick."

Thorin yawned and sat up. "Well, Papa is sick," Thorin admitted, glancing at Bilbo who was breathing sickly. "But Daddy's just really tired because he was up all night taking care of Papa."

The brothers snickered and Thorin glared at them.

"I was taking care of him," the dwarf king defended flatly. "He had a nasty fever and I had to make four trips to the infirmary and Dale. Then he had chills, and with the storm outside, I think I caught something too. Just two hours ago is when he finally fell asleep. I had to stay awake to make sure nothing happened to him." Thorin groaned tiredly and yawned again. "Boys, what is it? I am tired and running on one hour of sleep."

"Daddy, can Fili and Kili-"

"No," Thorin abruptly cut in with a firm shake of his head. "Absolutely not."

Frerin pouted and put on his puppy dog eyes he learned from his dad. "But Daddy," he whined, trembling his lower lip. "You promised I could have one day with them."

Thorin grumbled and grumbled. "Frerin, I am going to back to sleep. You are not going with them. Anywhere. Papa and I cannot come to you if something is wrong. If you want to spend time with them, stay in the chambers. Please, that's all I ask. Stay here," he finished with a wide yawn.

Frerin pouted even more. So, he got off the bed and went over to Bilbo's side and stood there. "Papa-"

"Don't," Thorin growled, harsher and louder than he meant to. He sighed in defeat. "Frerin, Papa is sick. You must leave him alone."

"Then, can I go?" the dwobbit asked, scampering to Thorin again. "Please Daddy."

"Please Uncle," Kili and Fili chorused.

"... fine..." Thorin grumbled, rubbing his face. "You can go with Fili and Kili."

"Yay!" Frerin squealed

"Quiet," the dwarf king said, holding his ears. "Where are you three going to be?" he asked, looking at Fili and Kili.

"Dale," they answered.

Thorin nodded. "If the weather keeps acting up, stay inside the mountain," he commanded. "Do you understand me?"

The young dwarfs nodded.

"Good. Take-"

"A guard with us," Fili, Kili, and Frerin finished. "We know."

Thorin smiled and lied back down. "Good night, boys."